TAMIU Students Make Big Impact at The Big Event

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteers rolled up their sleeves during The Big Event, a day of service focusing on the betterment of their local community.  

This year, The Big Event counted on the support of 330 volunteers, along with 139 volunteers from Laredo College.

University volunteers garnered a total of 13,200 service hours, equating to an overall monetary impact of $459,228.

Service projects took place at multiple locations, including the South Texas Food Bank, the Chacón Creek Hike and Bike Trail, and the Paso Del Indio Nature Trail.

At the South Texas Food Bank, volunteers assembled 840 food bags through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program supporting the elderly; prepared 740 backpacks for the Kids Backpack Program, and served 180 families during the community food distribution, held on the day of the event. 

At the Chacon Creek Hike and Bike Trail, volunteers removed over 30.89 tons of garbage and brush; collected 58 tires; repainted two basketball courts; covered four graffiti-laden underpasses and added mulch to one park playground.

At the Paso Del Indio, volunteers collected over 12 tons of garbage and brush.

The Big Event happened Saturday, March 28. The annual day of service highlighted the University’s commitment to civic engagement and community partnership.

The Big Event is made possible through a collaborative partnership between the University, Laredo College, the City of Laredo, South Texas Food Bank, the Student Government Association’s Leaders Organizing Volunteer Events (L.O.V.E.) Committee, the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), H-E-B, the Laredo Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability (LCUAS), Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center, and Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.

“The Big Event is a powerful reflection of what can be accomplished when our University and community come together with a shared purpose,” said Priscilla A. Cadena, program manager for the University’s Office of Student Affairs.

Cadena reiterated, “Seeing hundreds of volunteers step forward to serve Laredo through hands-on projects is inspiring. This event not only strengthens our community but also fosters a lifelong commitment to service and leadership among our students.”

Since its launch at TAMIU in 2010, The Big Event has posted some record-breaking feats, with 3,000+ volunteers generating a $1.6+M monetary impact to the community through a combined 65,000+ community service hours.  

Past The Big Event volunteer opportunities have taken place at the Haynes Recreation Center, Arturo Benavides Park, and Slaughter Park, Canta Ranas Neighborhood, North Central Park, Las Palmas Nature Trail, Los Tres Laredos Park, the Santo Niño Neighborhood, the Laredo Housing Authority, the South Texas Food Bank, Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center, Slaughter Park, and more. For a look back at past events, visit https://go.tamiu.edu/serve.  

For more information about The Big Event, contact the TAMIU Office of Student Affairs at 956.326.2265 or visit https://www.tamiu.edu/studentaffairs/.

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